Speech Development

About 4 months ago when my youngest turned 2y.o., I called up a speech pathologist friend. I spoke to her about my child's speech development. Well, more like lack of development.

We speak Mandarin at home, she is exposed to and understands English through playgroup and church activities, and we use Auslan as much as we can.

So, when I called up this friend, I told her that my 2 y.o. only says 5 words. For both English and Mandarin combined. She told me to make a record of words that the little one says and the signs that she knows and we'll compare in a month's time.

When I heard that, my first thought was, "Of course! Record, record, record! Why didn't I think of that?!"

I kept records of her activities and diet from birth, but never thought of keeping a record for her speech.

Anyway, I started recording and found out that she has about 50 signs but her verbal vocabulary did not exceeed 10 words. It'd take her a week to say a new sound, but she signs straight away and remembers it. Is she a visual person and not an auditory one?

After a month, my friend and I chatted and she said that my 2 y.o. is on par with others her age. She is learning 3 languages and for her, sign is more dominant. I was told to expect delays of at least 6 months for her verbal languages to come forth.

I was relieved to hear that, but on the other hand, still frustrated that she's not going the way I wanted it to be.

As parents, we worry all the time. If children are advanced in learning, we worry that the schools are not able to keep up with them. When children are behind their peers, we worry that they cannot catch up and that schools are going too fast. There's no satisfying a worried parent.

However, I took comfort in knowing that my toddler is developing well and according to the average children's benchmark. She's happy, growing and communicating, though not in the way that I had hoped she would.

I was reminded that my Creator God knows what is best for her and has her life and pathways in His plans. He will watch over her growth and needs. I'm here to guide and equip her with the tools for this earthly life. As I place my trust in Jesus Christ, I know that my child will never be lacking in anything with Christ as her Lord.

I put my worried mummy thoughts into His hands and I know that she will talk in her own time. For now, I shall enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts. Sphere: Related Content

Coping with illnesses

Illnesses are something mums don't like to deal with. Children are extra cranky and clingy. Mums are worn thinner than ever before.

We had a series of illness in our household the last couple of weeks.

First it was hand, foot and mouth disease which puts the little one out of contact with other people. She couldn't understand why she had to stay at home while the older sister goes out in the car. The sores on her arms bother her.

Then it was the older sister who had flu.

Then we all had head lice.

It was constant washing, washing, washing. Keep the toys clean. Keep your fingers clean. Keep the furniture clean.

We're getting to the end of all these and I look forward to a more normal life.

Clingy, cranky children aren't fun. A mum worn thin doesn't help either.

But, I know, I don't have to do this alone. God is there to strengthen and keep me going. His love allows me to love my children even more. His patience allows me to listen and spend time with them. When I feel like I am exhausted of all love and patience, He is the one who refreshes me and fills me with overflowing abundance. Sphere: Related Content

Pushing boundaries

It was Queen's Birthday Public Holiday yesterday and we had a rainy day at home. Not my idea of a beautiful holiday, but it'll have to do. :)

On Sunday night, we had a little friend come and have a sleepover. We've known one another for years and we'd be what most people call family friends.

So, this young man aged 4, came and had dinner with us. Miss 5 bossed him around and sleep time was delayed. I suppose that's what happens at sleepovers? I never had one, so I'm guessing. Didn't bother me, as the next day would be a public holiday and there's no need to put the alarm on.

Mr. 4 decided that he didn't want to sleep. I told him that we'd be having pancakes for breakfast and if he wants some, he'd better keep his head on the mattress and shut his eyes. Gone into dreamland within 5 mins.

Forward to Queen's Birthday holiday.

All the children woke up and started playing. I cooked the pancakes.

"Time for breakfast," I called. "Put away the toys!"

"But Aunty Yining, I didn't play with that toy. H did."

"Mummy, N made the mess."

"Well, if you want pancakes, then you will all have to help put the toys away. Breakfast won't start till the toys go back to where they belong." I helped them with the packing and we were at the table within 10 mins.

Sigh, all that whinging won't get the toys to go back. Reminded me of Mary Poppins and wishing that I could just do the finger clicking to get the toys into the boxes and cupboards.

Now, Mr. 4 is anaphylactic. He can't have tree nuts. We all know that.

During the course of breakfast, he asked for chocolate spread. It's Nutella. Has tree nuts. So, I told him that he's not allowed any, but I can give him some honey.

He took the honey and Miss 5 decided to 'share'. I heard, "Don't tell my mum, ok? Just a little bit."

If you're a mum and you hear this, your radar goes up on red alert. So, I turned and watched them. There was something on Mr. 4's pancakes that Miss 5 gave to him and they were having a secret conversation.

Didn't take me long to realise that Miss 5 had spread a finger tip size of Nutella on Mr. 4's pancakes.

You should see me run to the dining table from the kitchen. It's not too far, but I must have made it in record time. My record.

Took the pancake away, and gave Miss 5 a good scolding.

Then, it was time to go home. Miss 5 and Mr. 4 were reluctant. Mr. 4 dragged on and on about not wanting to go home and Miss 5 helped by offering stickers, toys to play with, etc.

It all ended well. We all had fun, it was a short sleepover, but a manageable one. Looking forward to the next one, but maybe not all the boundary testing parts. :)

I wonder what God was thinking as he watches me deal with these children. I can just imagine Him sitting on His throne, saying, "I have to go through this millions and billions of time since the start of creation," But it gives me an insight of how I have grieved Him everytime I push at His boundaries for me. I'm glad that He's all-knowing and will discipline, direct and love me at all times. Sphere: Related Content

I love school, I hate school...

It's Friday and I thank God for it. No, seriously, I thank God it's the end of the school week. Today was exhausting. All of us were back to our normal term time routine and that meant dropping my eldest in school, off to play group with the little one, lunch, sleep, school pick up, afternoon play for the girls and dinner.

A lot seems to be happening within the short span of 5 hours 'free' time during school hours. I rush around getting things done around the house, play and teach my little one and hopefully get a little rest.

My legs ached, my back too and my body and brain don't seem to be attached.

Nobody told me how tiring school runs can be.

I'm new to this and after talking to other mums who are doing this for the first time, I felt better. They feel the same too! I'm in a love-hate relationship with school runs.

I've been thinking these few days that I hardly have time to think about God. Which is not good. I'm so busy with my own life that I have put God aside. Thankfully I have somehow inherited a smart phone from a churchmate and hubby has installed an e-Bible  and daily Bible reading plan. I get to read a verse a day. It's not a lot. But have you tried running around like a madman and the only time you get to sit down is to sleep? That one verse meant a lot to me. Sometimes I forget and go back to read it again. I try to remember it for the day.

Our lives change when children come. And we have to make the best of it and still try to find time for God. It's the same as finding time for myself and with my husband. If I love someone, I need to set time aside for them. God is no exception. And you know what, that 1 minute a day with a Bible verse really makes a difference to this tired mind and body. Sphere: Related Content

I will come to you...

I mentioned about a car breakdown in my previous post while on my way to my cousin's wedding rehearsal. The good thing about it is, I was parked outside the Mater Hospital at a roadside carpark. The downside? I was terrified. With two preschoolers at the back, I wasn't quite sure what to do. I had to stay cheerful and entertain the two girls. Thank God for mummy intuition that made me bring lots of biscuits. Called my husband and he said the most wonderful words that night, “I will come to you.” My cousin came with his car and the two men got the battery working and the car running.

5 words. “I will come to you”. So simple, yet it meant so much.

I had a huge sense of relief when my husband said that he'd come to me. Anybody could have come to my help, but I think the impact of feeling 'rescued' wouldn't be as great as seeing someone who loves me come to my aid. It made me feel valued, important and loved.

Our children must have felt the same when they yelled out for help and see us running to them. That relief and comfort to know that mummy or daddy is here to take charge and nothing else matters. My girls had taken quite a few tumbles and had a few scrapes. They cried, they screamed, but as soon as one of us knelt down to pull them up into our embrace, the wounds didn't matter, the screaming and crying subsided to a sob and the fear in their eyes gone in that instant. That's how powerful our hugs are to the little ones. Never ever give up on a hug. It matters to them.

This reminded me of God sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, down to earth to rescue us from eternal damnation and sin. We all sin. Some say that good is relative. But actually, no. Good and bad are absolutes in God's eyes. It's either with Him or without.

Jesus came to save us from our sin against God. Our rebellion to reject the Creator. Our self-centredness. He came to us. Just like us as parents going to our children's aid, just like my husband coming to me when the car broke down.

We don't have to go looking for Him. He is here. He is with us. All we need to do is ask for Jesus to come and help, to start mending and giving Him full control. He doesn't barge in. He's not high up in the mountains or closed up in a house. He is within reach and communication.

Can you imagine what would've happened if I hadn't allowed my husband to help? I'd be stuck there with two preschoolers, fretting and anxious, angry and cranky. If, because of my ego, I had insisted on doing things my way, I wouldn't be able to make it home that night.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I hope that you will take the first step and invite Him into your heart. Tell Him that you need His love and friendship, His forgiveness for your sins and let Him take control. Find a local church or a Christian friend and start fellowshipping with God. Once you let Him take control, you will find that immense peace, relief, comfort and abundant love that makes you want to shout out in gladness.

God bless you.

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I can do all things...

I pride myself for being independent, efficient and organised when being asked to do things.

People had also given me the same comments.

However, the last three weeks were just a mess. Absolute mess. I have never seen myself in such mess before.

What happened? I fell sick. It is bad enough to be sick. It is worse to have children to look after when you're sick.

When my children fall sick, I can still operate around them. However, God struck me with such illness that I had to admit that I am no superwoman.

It started with a sore throat, then a headache, then fever, cough and runny nose. The fever really brought me down. I lived on panadol for 4 days but the temperature wouldn't subside. By the 5th day, I had to call for help. It was mid-day and I realised that I didn't have the energy to cook. Thankfully for a churchmate who lived a street away who could cook dinner for us.

I thought that would be the only help I'll ask for. But no. By 5 pm, I wasn't moving at all. I sat in the middle of the kitchen and didn't have the energy to heat up dinner for my girls. So, another phone call was made to the pastor's wife who came straight away.

She heated up food in the microwave, put them on the table, fed the girls and read a story to my eldest. And she didn't have her dinner when she left at 7:30pm.

Throughout the week, I had to admit my inadequacy. Dinners were delivered, the house was in a mess and I just laid in bed.

Finally after a week of bed rest, I was feeling so much better. But, I had to carry my 15 month old and do a cough. Pulled a cartilage in the process of doing so. And that caused another week of immobility.

Had to call a friend to come in and help look after the girls that evening. Thank God she lives nearby and is familiar with the girls. We had takeaway dinner that night. I couldn't lift my arm. The whole of my left body was in pain.

Panadol and physio therapies were my only sanity. I'm still resting it out, but am getting better. I told my mummy friends that I felt like I just went through another caesarean with the amount of painkillers that I had swallowed.

My husband has had to get up in the middle of the night to pacify the little one. He never had to do that because we agreed that I'd have the children so that he could sleep through and have a good work day. But the last couple of weeks were so bad for me that he had to attend to the girls. We have grown a deeper appreciation for each other and through it all, deepened our love for each other.

It was tough to obey and submit to my husband's orders to lie down and rest. I knew that he was tired from work, but I also realised that if I had tried to do any more than what I should, we will see no end to this. Doing nothing was not my motto, but it had to be that way for the last two weeks.

Not only were there household chores to manage, there was church ministries to attend to. And through all these illnesses and injury, I now understand what Philippians 4:13 means when it says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Truly, without the God who gives me breath, strength and help from family and friends, I can do nothing. Had He not granted me the ability to keep going, I would have crumbled.

In another verse, God's strength is seen in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Not that I'll be boasting about how wonderful it was to be sick and immobile, but that God has provided and made my days smooth. He has supplied abundantly for us in food and in help. He has supplied energy when I felt like the world was crashing in.

I can do all things? No. Only through the one and only God who strengthens me. Sphere: Related Content

What is in a name?

How long does it take for you to name your children? Took us the whole pregnancy and a few more days after birth. Actually, maybe even before pregnancy. When we decided that we'll try for another baby, we started throwing out names once in awhile to seek each other's opinions.

We always come up with both boys' and girls' names. Just in case. It's fun to run through names and check out each other's responses. I think it's very stressful to be dealing with children and names at the same time.

For both our children we have names ready for the hospital. A few of them, in fact. I'm glad we both are parents who need to see their children first before naming them, because I am this kind of person. If my husband wasn't, I'd be living in frustration and doubt throughout the pregnancy wondering if the name fits my child.

There's been quite a lot of news about celebrity baby names and to be honest, I sympathise with the children. Why do celebrities' children have to have odd names?

Was it last year that a Chinese couple wanted to name their child @. Then another couple wanting to name their child Facebook?

It really took us a good 6 months to come up with a list of names and then narrowing it down to final three. For both girls. The first one was easy as we already had names in mind. The second one was trickier as our favourite girls' name was taken.

Some have asked why it took us so long to decide upon a name. I always respond with this : A name is for life. It has to be fitting, meaningful, and the child proud to be called by. They will be using their given name the rest of their lives. Why make it difficult for them?

We are all called by God to be His children. He knows us by our names, our characters, our thoughts and deeds. God has put in a lot of thought into the making of a baby that will one day grow into an adult. Then, shouldn't we, as stewards of God, should put in a bit more thought into our children's names?

A friend inboxed me recently asking how I gave my girls their Chinese names. One of the suggestions I gave to her is to pray about it. Not trying to boast of how holy I am, which I can tell you I am far from! But that if God had given us this kicking little life to be brought up, I'm sure He has in mind a name for him/her. For both my girls, God has placed circumstances in our way to guide us in naming our children. He cares for all our needs, every little thing. If God can give names to people in the Bible, He sure can do it today.

The next time you're pregnant and is stuck for names, pray. God will provide.
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Still fighting sleep at 2.5years old

I'm exasperated by Miss 2.5 today. Refused to sleep. Cried and talked to herself for 1.5 hrs until I went in, made her shut up and lie down. Turned on some soft music and she fell asleep within 5 minutes.

It is especially annoying when I had other children trying to sleep.

For the first time, I felt like slapping her. Don't know where that thought came from, but I know I was boiling. Thank God, I didn't. Told her she's not getting any afternoon tea if she didn't sleep.

It's human nature, isn't it? I fight sleep too. Except, I probably am a little wiser in knowing that I won't be able to survive the following day if I don't get any decent rest.

Sigh, thank God for His grace and redemption. Our old sinful nature is always at work and needs the Holy Spirit's guidance all the time. Sphere: Related Content